Kuldeep Yadav & Yuzvendra Chahal Raring To Make A Mark In England

Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have not looked back since replacing Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the limited-overs team last year.

The duo got a chance after Ashwin and Jadeja’s constant struggles with white-ball and went on to justify their selection. After blowing away Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka at home, they made a huge mark in South Africa. Kuldeep and Chahal were the leading wicket-takers in the ODIs. While Kuldeep picked up 17 wickets, Chahal ended with 16 as India beat the hosts 5-1 to win a historic series.

The road ahead, however, is only going to get tougher. As India is eyeing an improved show in England, the duo will have to be at their very best to do well on pitches which won’t offer much for the spinners.

The upcoming tour will also give the duo an opportunity to get a feel of conditions ahead of next year’s World Cup and they are looking forward to it.

“We have played teams like Sri Lanka and Australia in past one year and won matches throughout the season. It will be my first tour to England, so it’s very important for me as the 2019 World Cup will also be played there. The team going to England this time is certainly the best one,” Chahal told IndiaTV.

Kuldeep echoed Chahal’s thoughts, adding that England are a very strong team.

“As a youngster, you want to do well in every series. England are a very strong team. They are playing good cricket in ODIs and T20Is. It is an opportunity for youngsters like us to do well against them at their home,” he said.

Prior to taking on England, India will play two T20Is in Ireland, starting June 27. For the UK tour, the Virat Kohli-led side boasts of a strong bowling unit in the squad, which includes Chahal and Kuldeep along with Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Siddarth Kaul and Umesh Yadav.

And Chahal is confident that India’s death bowling is ‘perfect’.

“Our death bowling is perfect as we have Bhuvi, Bumrah and now Siddharth Kaul as well,” he said.

“As far as spin department is concerned, I and Kuldeep are there along with Sundar. Thanks to the IPL, we have a good bench strength now; if one player is not available for a match, we have his replacement,” he added.

India will play three T20Is, three ODIs and five Tests in England.